A man stabbed in the back just medial to the medial border of the right scapula later develops difficulty pushing a door shut with his palm flat and a subtle fullness of the scapula on that side. Retraction of the scapula against resistance is weak. Which nerve is injured?

• A Long thoracic nerve
• B Suprascapular nerve
• C Accessory nerve
• D Dorsal scapular nerve ✓

Explanation

The dorsal scapular nerve arises from the C5 root, pierces scalenus medius, and runs deep to levator scapulae along the medial border of the scapula to supply rhomboid major and minor. Rhomboid weakness impairs scapular retraction, seen when pushing forward or retracting against resistance. Serratus anterior is intact here since protrusion and the long thoracic nerve are unaffected, which rules out option A despite the shared scapular theme.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.